Riding-cultivator.



0. M00. (ELEMENTS. RIDING GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1910.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

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RIDING GULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 191 0.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

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RIDING GULTIVATOR. APPLIOATIONIILED SEPT. 23, 1910.

1,050,614. PatentedJan.l4,1913.

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67/0/7022 [Yam/2Z5 WMMA I 5W4) UNITED STATES CHARLTON MoC. CLEMENTS, OF MCRAE, GEORGIA.

RIDING-CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed September 23, 1910. Serial No. 583,452.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLTON MOO. GLEMENTS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atlWIcRae, in the county of Telfair and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hiding-Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to riding cultivators, and it has for its object to produce a simple and efficient machine of this class which may be easily and conveniently guided and in which provision shall be made for such adjustments of the various working parts as are considered necessary and desirable in a machine of this character.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the detailed construction of the various component parts of the device.

\Vith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within. the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a top plan view of a riding cultivator constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail View taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail view in elevation. of the spreader used in connection with the invent-ion, the beams vith which the spreader is connected being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The frame of the improved machine includes side members 1, 1 having forwardly converging portions 2, 2, the front ends of which are secured upon the sides of the tongue 3. Upon the underside of each side member 1 is secured a block 1, said blocks being connected by tubular sleeves 5, the ends of which are firmly secured in said blocks. These tubes may be regarded as constituting a part of the frame structure. Each of said tubes constitutes a housing for an axle member 6 which may be secured adjustably in the housing by suitable means, such as set screws 7, and each of said axle members is provided at one end with a crank 8, said cranks being obviously disposed at opposite sides of the frame. I-Iingedly connected with each of the cranks 8 is a knuckle 9 including the spindle 10 upon which a transporting wheel 11 is supported for rotation. Each of the knuckle members is provided with a rearwardly extending arm or crank 12, said arms or cranks being pivotally connected at 13 with the downturned ends of a pair of bars 14 that extend toward and overlap one another, as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 6. The bars 14: are adjustably connected together by means of clamps 15, one of which has an upwardly extending pivot member or pintle V 16, see Fig. 6. A bracket 17 suitably clamped or secured upon one of the sleeves 5 carries a lever 18 having a slot or aperture 19 engaging the pivot 16. It will be seen that by manipulating the lever 18, the "knuckle members may be rocked, thus presenting the wheels in different directions and greatly facilitating the guiding and turning of the machine when in motion. A rack bar 20 suitably secured to the frame of the machine may be engaged by the lever 18 for the purpose of retaining said lever and the parts actuated thereby in adjusted position.

A seat 21 for the driver or operator is lsuitably. preferably adjustably, supported upon a frame 22, the side members of which I are connected at their front ends with the side members of the main frame, as shown at 23. Said seat carrying frame may also be in part supported upon the tubular frame members 5.

Suitably secured upon the underside of the tongue 3 is a draft frame A, best seen in Fig. 3, said frame including suitably connected top members 24, 25 having downwardly extending vertical arms or side members 26 and 27, the latter or inner members being disposed intermediate the outer side members 26. The side members 26 and 27 are connected by braces 28 and 29 with the undersides of the frame blocks 4, see Figs. 1 and 2, thereby reinforcing the frame construction.

The axle cranks 8 are provided with brackets 30 for the attachment of pivoted forwardly extending rods 31 having screw threaded front ends extending through brackets 32 upon the frame members 26 where the front ends of said rods are adjustably secured by means of nuts 33. It will be seen that by adjusting the nuts upon the screw threaded portions of the rods, the latter may be moved forwardly or rearwardly, thus tilting the axle cranks in the desired direction, and accordingly raising and lowering the main frame of the machine which, by retightening the nuts 33, may be firmly secured at the desired elevation. This adjustment may be made at any time before the machine is started in operation, and it is obvious that by the means provided the frame will be firmly and securely maintained at the desired elevation above the ground.

It will be readily seen that by loosening the set screws 7, the axle members 6 may be adjusted lengthwise in the tubular sleeves or frame members 5 to regulate the distance between the carrying wheels of the machine. This adjustment may be readily effected without interfering with the operation of the steering gear or wheel adjusting means, since the connection between the steering knuckles including the overlapping rods 14, is capable of being extended or shortened and loosening the connecting clamps 15. The rods 31 by means of which the axle cranks are adjusted being pivotally connected with saidoranks will likewise not interfere with the adjustment of the wheels and the steering device.

The side members 26, 27 at each side of the frame are connected together by a bolt 34, and a bolt or rod 35 likewise connects the inner side members 27. The bolts 34 are equipped with couplings 36 which are capable of turning upon said bolts upon an approximately horizontal axis, and with said couplings are pivotally connected draft plates of cheek plates 37 which are capable of swinging in an approximately horizontal plane, said cheek plates being secured upon the front ends of the cultivator beams 38, which latter, by the plates 37 and couplings 36 are connected with the bolts 34 in such a manner as to be capable of moving freely both vertically and horizontally. The cheek plates 37 are provided with downwardly and forwardly extending brackets 39 having eyes or apertures which are connected by links 40 with the draft links 41, depending from the ends of the evener 42 which is pivotally connected with the tongue. The whiflietrees 43 are connected in the customary manner with the draft links 41 for the attachment of the draft, provision being made for the vertical adjustment of said whitiletrees. It will be observed that in this manner the draft links are connected directly with the cheek plates which are firmly secured upon the front ends of the cultivator beams, thus making a direct application of the draft, which is obviously desirable.

The cultivator beams have been shown as consisting of two separate bars 38 and 38, which latter may be spaced outwardly from the bars 38 at their rear ends, as will be shown at one side in Fig. 1, in order that they may be equipped with separate and independent blade carrying standards 44. These standards, which are of the ordinary bifurcated type, may be suitably bolted or otherwise secured upon the beams, and it is obvious that blades of any type or character may be used, such as ordinary digging blades or turning blades of any description adapted to move the soil inwardly or outwardly with reference to the row of plants that is being operated upon.

Under some circumstances, it may he found desirable to use an auxiliary beam. as shown in Fig. 1 at 45. This beam which, like the remaining beams, is equipped with a blade carrying standard is connected with the bolt or rod 35 by means similar to those herein described for connecting the beams 38 with the bolts 34. It is obvious that when the machine is used for ordinary cultivating purposes this auxiliary beam may be readily detached.

The several beams are provided adjacent to their rear ends with clips or clamps 46 having upwardly extending pins 47 which are loosely jointed or connected together by means of a bar 48 having a plurality of apertures 49 for the reception of the pins 47, which latter are provided with cotter pins 50. By means of the bar 48 the rear ends of the beams may be suitably spaced apart. The beams 38 are provided with arms or brackets 51 connected by flexible elements, such as chains or ropes 52 with adjusting levers 53 fulcrumed upon the frame of the machine and having stop members 54 adapted to engage ratchet segments 55, whereby the levers may be secured in adjusted position. The flexible elements 52 are guided over suitably arranged pulleys 56. and it will be seen that by manipulating the lovers 53 the beams 38 may be raised from the ground and supported at any desired elevation. By this means the beams may be adjusted to enable the earth-engaging blades to operate at the desired depth in the ground.

A rock shaft 57, which is suitably supported for oscillation upon the frame of the machine is provided with forwardly extending arms or cranks 58 which are connected by fiexible members 59 with the plow beams. The rock shaft is also provided with a hand lever 60, whereby it may be oscillated so as to throw the connecting points of the members 59 with the arms 58 upwardly and rearwardly beyond the dead center formed by the axis of the rock shaft, thus simultaneously elevating the several beams and supporting them in an elevated position for transportation or while the machine is being turned at the end of a row.

The frame of the machine is provided adjacent to its rear end with brackets 61, best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein vertically disposed rock shafts 62 are supported for oscillation, said rock shafts being provided with cranks 63 having downwardly extending arms 64 which are connected by links 65 with the plow beams 38. The plow beams are provided with clamps 66 including upwardly extending pins 67 which are pivotally connected with the links 65, and the latter are apertured for the passage of the arms 64 extending downwardly from the cranks 63 of the rock shafts 62. Each of the cranks 63 is provided with a foot piece or treadle 68. It will be seen that by pressing upon either foot piece 68 the rock shafts will be oscillated, motion being transmitted between the rock shafts by the cultivator beams, which in turn are connected by the bar 48, pressure upon one foot piece serving to move the cultivator beams to the right, while pressure upon the other treadle will move the beams to the left. I11 this manner the cultivator beams may be conveniently and accurately guided and governed when the machine is in operation.

In Fig. 4t of the drawings has been shown a spreader for the cultivator beams which under some circumstances may be advantageously used. Said spreader is composed of two lever members 70 connected pivotally together at 71 and provided adjacent to their lower ends with pivotally supported pintles 72 adapted for engagement with apertured brackets 73 that extend laterally from the clips 51 upon the plow beams with which the flexible elements 52 are connected. The upper ends of the members 70 are provided with inturned ends 74 overlapping one another, and one of said members is provided with a spring-actuated locking pin 75 adapted to engage apertures 76 in the overlapping portions 7 1 which may thus be secured together at various adjustments. It is obvious that by this device the cultivator beams may be spread apart and held securely at various distances from each other.

From the foregoing description, taken in connect-ion with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. It will be seen that provision is made for varying the distance between the wheels by simply loosening the set screws 7 and sliding the axle members 6 longitudinally of the tubular supporting members It will be noted that when such adjustment is made, the axles will be slightly rocked, owing to the fact that the brackets 80 on the axle cranks 8 are connected by the rods 81 with the brackets The rods 31 will readily flex or yield to permit of the desired adjustment, but it will be seen that when such adjustment is made, the position of the axle cranks will be slightly changed. Should it be desired to compensate for such change the desired readjustment may be made by proper adjustment of the nuts 33 on the rods 31. It will also be noted that when the distance between the wheels is to varied, it will be necessary to first loosen the clamps 15 on the overlapping bars 14 which connect the arms 12 extending rearwardly from the wheel carrying knuckle members. As soon as the desired adjustment has been effected the set screws 7 and the clamps 15 are re tightened, and the machine will then be in condition for operation, as before. Should it be desired to simply raise or lower the frame of the machine, this may be accomplished by loosening the set screws 7 to permit the axle members 6 to oscillate about their respective axes, after which the nuts 32 on the screw threaded ends of the rods 31 may be adjusted to move said rods in the proper direction to produce the desired result. This adjustment may be effected withoutchanging the position of the overlapping bars 14: connected with the steering knuckles. It will be seen that the wheels may be adjusted, if desired, in such a manner as to support the two sides of the machine at unequal height, as may sometimes be desirable for side hill work.

The construction of the improved cultivator is simple and inexpensive, and it will be found to be thoroughly eiiicient for the purposes for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is 2- 1. In a cultivator, a frame including a tongue, side members converging forwardly and secured upon the sides of the tongue,

blocks secured upon and extending downwardly from the under faces of the side members, and two tubular sleeves having their ends supported in said blocks, in combination with axle members slidably supported in said sleeves and capable of rocking therein, each of said axle members having a terminal crank, wheel carrying knuckles hingedly mounted upon the cranks, and means for securing the axle members against movement in their respective sleeves.

2. In a cultivator, a frame including a tongue, forwardly converging side members &

secured upon the tongue, blocks secured on the under faces and extending downwardly from the side members, and sleeves terminally supported in said blocks, axle members supported slidably and for rocking movement in said sleeves and having terminal cranks, knuckles hingedly supported upon the cranks and having rearwardly extending arms, overlapping bars having downturned ends pivotally connected with the arms, means for adjustably connecting the bars together, lever means to effect adjustment of the bars and of the knuckles connected therewith, and means for securing the axle members against movement in their respective sleeves.

3. In a cultivator, a frame including side members, blocks secured upon the undersides of the side members and a pair of tubular members having their ends supported in the blocks, axle members adjustably supported in the tubular members and having terminal cranks, knuckles hingedly supported upon the cranks and having wheel carrying spindles and rearwardly extending arms, overlapping bars having downturned ends connected with the arms, means for adjustably connecting the bars together including a clamp having an upwardly extendlng pm,

a lever fulcrumed upon the frame and hav ing a slot engaging the pin, and a rack bar secured upon the frame and adapted for engagement with the lever to secure the latter at various adjustments.

4. In a cultivator, a frame including transversely disposed tubular members, axle members adjustably supported in the tubular members and having terminal downturned cranks provided with forwardly extending brackets, wheel carrying knuckles hingedly connected with the axle cranks, arms extending rearwardly from knuckles, means for adjustably connecting the knuckle arms at various adjustments of the axle members, lever means for actuating the connecting means of the knuckle arms, a tongue connected with the frame, a draft frame secured upon the underside of the tongue and having apertured brackets, and

the-

rods pivotally connected with the forwardly extending brackets of the axle cranks and having threaded ends extending through the apertured brackets and provided with nuts whereby they may be secured at various adjustments.

5. In a cultivator, a frame including side members and transversely disposed tubular members, wheel carrying crank axles slidably and adjustably supported in the t-ubular members, a tongue connected with the frame, a draft frame secured upon the un derside of the tongue and including a plurality of vertically disposed side members, rods connecting the side members, coupling members supported for oscillation upon the rods, beams having cheek plates connected pivotally with the coupling members and downwardly and forwardly extending apertured brackets, draft means connected with said brackets, clips mounted upon the plow beams and having laterally extending apertured brackets, guide means upon the side beams of the frame, adjusting levers fulcrumed upon the frame, and flexible members guided over the guide means and connecting the adjusting levers with the clips upon the plow beams.

6. In a cultivator, a frame, a tongue connected therewith, a draft frame secured upon the underside of the tongue, cultivator beams connected with the draft frame and provided with upwardly extending pins ad,- j acent to their rear ends, a link bar having apertures engaging the pins to adjustably connect the cultivator beams together, vertically disposed rock shafts supported for oscillation upon the frame and having cranks provided with downwardly extending arms, links connecting said arms with the cultivator beams, and foot pieces supported upon the cranks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLTON MCC. CLEMENTS.

lVitnesses J. F. Cross,

J. H. GRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Par nts Washington, D. C." 

